It wasn’t speedy, but I was in no rush. When choosing a compost tumbler … Mix the right ingredients and you’ll get rich … But… there are other factors. No. You only need the right ratio if you want to make it quickly! Is the ration based on weight or volume? Nitrogen-rich materials should be neutralized by adding more brown materials, like dry leaves, wood chips, or newspaper. It is a unit that handles all your organic garbage easily. Great article! In the presence of adequate nitrogen content, not more than 35 percent of the carbon in the compost pile will be transformed into nutrient-rich soil. Turn the compost tumbler according to the manufacturer’s instructions; 8. Having a proper mix of green and brown materials will ensure that your compost pile works properly. blood meal would speed up decomposition by adding nitrogen. This seems to work as within a few days my compost gets up to 160 or even 170 (if it gets this hot I have to aerate to cool it a bit). Dried vegetable peels (cucumber, carrot or potato) are they considered as greens or browns? Why You Need a Good Browns and Greens Mix for Compost. Just spread the greens over the soil and they will decompose. Everyone’s thoughts & expert advice appreciated and read. . Would adding sugar (white, brown, molasses): a. hasten the composting process (soil-based) In hot summer condition , the compost can finish in as little as 2 weeks. Never even thought about this. In my simple mind the 30:1 is a misnomer and the 2″ layer to 6″ layer makes more sense just for the simple reason that it seems to speak in “volumes” of C to N. Why not just simplify and come up with a chart of sorts of the various different materials that are available to most home gardens. The latter is made easy by turning your YOLO Compost Tumbler regularly, when you add new material. This website is a blog, and not designed to allow new questions. I think I know the answer to this question, but I can’t find confirmation anywhere. There are times to break good rules. The greens (grass clippings, vegetable peelings, etc) are rich in nitrogen. What is the rush? It can also burn lawns if you use too much. the sprayed compost would stink even without too-high total N; Gardeners have no easy way to convert one to the other. Use them as a guide to figure proportions of browns and greens when you’re mixing up a batch of compost, but don’t stress over precision measurements. Hollow materials, like paper towel or toilet paper roll tubes and crumpled paper, can serve as good air pockets. All compostable matter is classified as either carbon- or nitrogen-rich ingredients. I knew enough to add greens and browns + egg shells and coffee grinds but then worried about the right ph as I was ready to feed shrubs and flowers this spring–my only reason for composting actually–I won’t worry so much now. BTW, do I need to sift the compost material (I also inherited a screen which I assume means I should consider sifting the compost before using !). My Composting Blend. They're not even kinda close ratios, either. Achieving the correct 2/3 brown to 1/3 green material ratio requires more thought. 30:1, airy. If you start with high nitrogen, much of it will be lost to the air during the composting process. “What’s the rush”, just seems to be ingrained in me (especial with our gutless sandy soils in WA), that one wants the plants to benefit from the nutrients in the compost as soon as possible. As shown by scientists, there are four conditions that are common for all composting processes: All microorganisms need moisture. I should have stated that I suppose Thanks Robert for the reply. Dark color help promote the composting process too. However, a lot of people have trouble with the compost. Again, the brown may be boring stuff. To speed things up when I have a massive amount of leaves I use the prior to composting, human urine soaking method in a dustbin/trash/garbage bin, then compost in an aerated bin for 2 to 4 months & have usable compost. Hi Robert. You can obsess about the specific carbon-nitrogen ratio inside your composter — good finished compost has a C-N ratio of 10-1 — or you can go for a good brown-green ratio and let nature take its course. Every ingredient has it’s own C:N ratio. 1) Begin to counter repeatedly the simplistic information about Now I start a new bin, and unload and spread the first bin when the timing is right. I still ended up with compost. Speedy Process & Space-saving:Just close the door, turn it 5-6 times every 2-3 days. Fast growing microbes means that the composting process happens quickly and the pile heats up to desirable temperatures. When reading about the the proper technique for composting, temperatures, green and brown, etc. A ratio of 2:1 Nitrogen to Carbon is a really good mix for a usable compost. I’m confused about how to achieve the correct green to brown ratio. Spin Bin. I don’t worry about anaerobic composting as it has enough oxygen mixed in to get started before the winter comes in. Also the other day I wanted to post a question about Long Stem planting, but cannot find where to click to start a new question on your website, would be grateful if you could let me know how to post a new question? Reason #2 – Used unshredded or fresh leaves If you do not get a good mix of brown and green materials, your compost pile may not … Secondly, you rarely have the right ingredients available. It might be a slower process, but that is OK. Generally, a ratio of three- or four-parts browns to one-part greens is great, but you do not need to be exact about it. Alfalfa hay is ‘brown’ in color, but is considered to be a green since it contains a lot of nitrogen. weed seeds killed by the “heat”. The recommended maximum moisture level is between 55 and 60 percent. So, in general, you should have 4” layers of brown material alternating with 2” layers of green material . Maintaining the ideal proportion of green to brown waste (a.k.a. Thanks! The reality is that if you simply add your ingredients to the compost pile when you get them, and you turn the pile, you will make compost. Green or nitrogen-dense materials provide essential substances for the … In fact a compost pile probably loses more nutrients. But while it can be relatively easy to find browns to offset those summer greens, it can be harder to find extra greens in the colder months – don’t worry though: as mentioned above, some people prefer a brown-rich compost heap anyway. It all depends on which browns and greens you use. -  Designed by Thrive Themes There is a simple solution to this problem. Gardening is not for those who want to rush thru life. The C/N ratio As for the C/N ratio of those browns - some … Error message: "The request cannot be completed because you have exceeded your, Copyright © 2020 Garden Myths | The Ideal Green to Brown … Other gardeners choose to load an excess amount of green materials in the compost pile to ensure the there is an adequate amount of nitrogen to keep the pile warm. The main advantage of a compost tumbler over a standard compost bin is the speed with which you can make finished compost. Why not compare the number of cubic ft of Carbon to cubic ft Nitrogen ratio. A successful active compost pile will have a 2 to 1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio by volume. Depends on how fresh it is and what went into making it. Use 6 inches browns to 2 inches of greens. I love your posts and I believe I’ve read all of them. The majority of your mix should be brown, carbon-rich items. When choosing a compost tumbler I highly recommend getting one that has dual chambers. OMG Thanks so much for the simplicity of composting on you site. Most greens are available in summer. With a compost tumbler the process is sped up, and so you won’t have to wait as long to get compost. —————— You can also use a rotating compost tumbler to keep things aerated with little effort ... Brown green balance is a term used to describe the ratio of two necessary elements needed in the decomposition process: carbon and nitrogen. I collect the leaves using my rear-bagger lawn tractor, dump them on my lawn, then finely mulch them with my lawn mower, collect them again with my lawn tractor bagger and finally, dump them in my compost bin. Download the Printable PDF. Organic substances are composed of more carbon than nitrogen. Approximated C: N Ratio. Then, add a small amount of water to the tumbler. From start to spreading is 12 months and then another six months before we plant in it. The Best Brown to Green Waste Ratio for Compost Bins. A good mix of browns and greens in your compost pile is about 4:1 browns (carbon) to greens (nitrogen). Most compost tumblers recommend that you load your barrel with roughly 75 percent grass clippings or green equivalent and 25 percent other ingredients such as kitchen scraps. Achieving the correct ratio of “green" to "brown” is essential when using a compost tumbler. the C:N ratio) is especially important in the winter, when we want our compost piles to work at maximum efficiency. When gardeners struggle to make good compost this is usually due to an imbalance in the proportions of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ materials. You had a bacteria explosion and once the food source was gone they died. This represents a balanced consumption for these microbes. Come May when we are ready for planting it has disappeared into the soil. All of the discussions about C:N ratios are weight based, size of leaf pieces don’t matter. This is the most helpful thing I have read. Both are good organic sources of nitrogen. I wondered how I had possibly got anything produced in years past, other than through dumb luck – and how fortunate I was not to have permanently scarred and sterilized large sections of our yard, with toxic output from a poor recipe. I've seen anything from 3:1 nitrogen-heavy all the way to 30:1 … A friend has said this homemade compost/leaf mold will burn the roots of the new trees & shrubs if it touches the roots at the time of planting??? The differences in nitrogen composition contributes to the variances in the C:N ratio. A very simple solution is to add some nitrogen fertilizer to the compost pile. I layer every six inches or so with about two inches of free coffee grounds from Starbucks. I think most home compost will be close to that even though we all start with different levels. During the summer, inside it gets very hot. If the composting materials are too dry, this can be easily remedied by putting more green materials into the compost pile. Brown waste is incredibly important to use in your compost piles because it’s rich in carbon. C/N Ratio for Compost Tumbler. We are new to this and all the ratios and percentages are a bit confusing and overwhelming. Mix the right ingredients and you’ll get rich compost for your yard and garden. Blending carbon and nitrogen ingredients in the “low to middle ranges” of the C:N ratio … Thanks again for the series of articles on composting – will be interesting and helpful to a number of gardeners. To produce the best compost, you must maintain a 1:3 ratio of green and brown wastes. Yes, the black trash bag method works, I’ve used it on autumn/fall tree leaves, the only draw back is that it is a slow method of composting ie 2 years. As shown in Table 2, most green materials have low C:N ratios. For best results, aim for a ratio of 3 parts brown to 1 part green. If you use wood chips, it is best to wet them before loading them into the compost tumbler because they don’t absorb liquid in the same way as leaves. Thats interesting-‘The Cut & Drop’ method off composting I think its called, Robert do recommend sprinkling blood & bone over the greens when they are spread over the surface of the soil (or over the browns for that matter? I’m cheap and lazy so I’m always checking to ensure that I’m not wasting my time. For most … Table 1 shows the estimated C:N ratio for some common brown materials. Check your heap after two weeks for doneness; Bonus Video: How To Start A Dual Batch Compost Tumbler; Conclusion However, using too much carbon material can slow down the composting process, so they should be neutralized by putting more garden clippings or manure in the compost pile. Typically, a compost tumbler bin will make compost in 6 to 8 weeks. Best Brown Material for Great Compost: Mix with Green Compost for Best Results! How to Compost – the C:N Ratio. These microbes have basic requirements for food, just like you and me. Stinky smells are a good indicator that your compost pile is too … I have one doubt. In practice, however, it’s possible to monitor and assess this as you are going along. These materials are low in nitrogen and carbon-rich. They grow like crazy on this food source, so you see an explosion of bacteria numbers, and once the sugar is gone thing go back to normal. I leave them soaking until they are soft & subtle & have absorb the human urine (ie free nitrogen), which compensates for the lack of greens I can supply when I have an absolute abundance of browns (ie brown dry tree leaves). Here is a list of brown and green materials that you can use in your composter. Browns can be green, greens can be brown—it’s getting confusing! The Top Compost Tumblers. Robert why wouldn’t anyone want to speed up the decomposition blood meal? ANSWER: When authors/researchers call for 2-parts BROWN, they are considering the fact that common BROWNS such as leaves or hay, etc. However, it does happen. Brown materials have high carbon content. I’d rather spend my gardening time with plants . In orderforcompost tobeefficient,it requiresacorrectmixture ratio of “brown” (carbon) and “green” (nitrogen) materials (see LIST OF KEY COMPONENTS FOR GREAT COMPOST). The microbes that digest compostable materials gobble up ‘green’ nitrogen-rich ingredients and ‘brown’ carbon-rich ingredients. High K will also not produce high K compost since it is released quickly and washed out of the compost. Beneficial microbes that decompose the compost pile require 30 portions of carbon for every one portion of nitrogen. Approximated C: N Ratio. We had a pound of sugar that got soaked in some grey water so instead of throwing it out I threw it in the compost. The proper ratio is 20 brown to 1 green. Even with too little nitrogen, it will compost, so maybe the best approach is not to worry about it. Slight exaggeration here, as I’ve learned over the years that common sense often trumps information overload [or well intended information beyond my understanding]. I collect and shred them with my weedeater then throw them in a bin. I also add all the garden remains mixed in. Eggshells - How Not to Use Them in the Garden, Ontario Rock Garden and Hardy Plant Society. Table 2 shows the estimated C:N ratio for some basic green materials often added to compost tumblers. Adding a handful of Urea to a pile of leaves will speed up the process. The key to a healthy compost is to aim for a ratio of one part green to two parts brown, which is easy to do when you know which materials contain what. Composting takes longer and takes place at lower temperatures. This is why it is not recommended to put too much green material into the compost pile. Stick with me, there is a simple solution. Thank you in advance for your help. It would be better to use the terms high nitrogen ingredient, and low nitrogen ingredient. With a compost tumbler the process is sped up, and so you won’t have to wait as long to get compost. I did not invent the 30:1 ratio – it is what everyone uses. Adding carbon-rich materials with high C:N ratios, like sawdust and wood chips, is recommended if this happens. But even the best compost tumbler takes a little bit more management than that. What I am saying is that, given that urine on the ground stinks, When it gets concentrated it does smell more like ammonia which is the same smell you get when there is too much nitrogen in a compost pile. As the greens age they lose nitrogen and turn brown at the same time. Every material has its own C:N ratio, like for example Food Scraps has a Carbon:Nitrogen Ratio of 17:1, meaning 17 parts Carbon to 1 part Nitrogen). Are you wondering which compost materials to use? If you want to go 100% organic, use some fresh chicken manure or you can pee on the compost pile. Greens are – you guessed it- green. Recipes for making compost usually tell you to combine the browns and greens in the correct ratios. This results in the activation of anaerobic microbes which are the main culprits for a smelly environment. Below are the approximated C: N ratios for several common brown substances. 1) How to Compost – Carbon to Nitrogen Ratios: http://www.planetnatural.com/composting-101/c-n-ratio/. Good questions that will help you understand how to compost. 1. the C:N ratio) is especially important in the winter, when we want our compost piles to work at maximum efficiency. No. As far as composting goes, it’s a green. it is how I do all my composting now. I currently compost my food scraps together with pine pellets added to act as the “brown”. You may hear the C:N ratio bandied about in discussions among avid composters. Thanks a lot. Good information. If your compost pile starts to stink, you added too much nitrogen.”. We save up all of our kitchen refuse over the winter out on the porch and use it come spring. My compost works, but very slowly, as it doesn’t get very hot. For example, to maintain 2:1 brown to green ration with every can of food scraps you put in a compost tumbler, you need to add two same size cans of browns. One reason not to buy it, is that it is not needed – which helps save the environment. Nothing has really been accomplished. You do not need the right C:N ratio to make compost. Should You Compost Dog Waste or Cat Waste? It includes fresh grass clippings, freshly picked weeds, plant clippings and most kitchen scraps. thus a false positive. Over the summer we continue to fork and mix kitchen stuff in, along with a healthy amount of human compost activator (urine). Most of the stuff you collect in fall and spring are browns. The 2″ to 6″ layers mentioned above would, in essence, break down to,, 1cf to 3cf mix. You can keep a bin of wood chips next to the compost tumbler, so it is easy to add them when you dump in food scraps. I have a bounty of leaves in the fall. Compact enough for the outdoor space, doesn't stink as long as you keep the green/brown ratio correct. Keep one thing in mind – mother nature does just fine in the woods with none of this knowledge or a 3 bin system. 21 Common Indoor Plant Myths – That Save You Time and Money. Other than shredded newspaper, I have no easy access to browns. Most compost tumblers recommend that you load your barrel with roughly 75 percent grass clippings or green equivalent and 25 percent other ingredients such as kitchen scraps. I inherited a 3 bin system in a home we bought last year. For example horse manure is about 25:1. Hence It turns out they grow best when there is a ratio of carbon to nitrogen of about 30:1. If the moisture drops below 30 percent, then the decomposition process will be halted. Add a cup, turn the tumbler. the last bins I built had just 3 sides – no front. 5. When the C:N ratio reaches the ideal range, it is advisable to add water, especially in the hotter summer months. Check in an hour or so and add another cup if needed. A ratio of 2:1 Nitrogen to Carbon is a really good mix for a usable compost. Too … Reference 1 has a good list of C:N ratios for common composting ingredients. The author does not understand the term C:N ratio. The carbon to nitrogen ratio in the compost pile should be 30:1, not the ratio of browns to greens. But your compost needs both to thrive! Urea is one of the cheapest sources of nitrogen and just as good as any other source, except, that it will vaporize into the air. Most home gardeners have more browns than greens, unless they bring in some manure or have a cow in the back yard. No easy way. You don’t need books, thermometers, fancy compost bins, kelp, microbial inoculants, or master composter classes (yes, this is a thing). Does drying out used coffee grinds turn it from nitrogen to carbon? When you use a compost tumbler for the first time, it might seem complicated. You just need a little time to experiment, and the willingness to let the pile tell you what it needs. Compost Brown to green ratio There is a recommended ratio of 1 unit of ‘green’ material to 20 units of brown material. Sugar is like a supper food for bacteria. Not quite as neat looking, but I no longer have to remove the front to work on them. Both of these recipes are simple to understand and simple to follow. Green leaves have high levels of nitrogen, but as they go brown in fall, the nitrogen levels drop. Green-to-brown ratio. Composting Ratio: What’s the Right Number? The 3 bin system works very well, especially if you have removable fronts. More than 65 percent of the carbon in the compost pile will be transformed into carbon dioxide as a byproduct of microbial respiration. I stopped worrying about green and brown ratios a long time ago. So for fast compost it is important to feed the microbes the right ratio of carbon:nitrogen. Can onion and garlic peels be added to compost bin? Mix these in a ratio of 2:1, green to … Lots of sites have lists of common backyard material and their ratio values. That being said, you may need to adjust your pile somewhat depending on what you … It is not a ratio of browns to greens. The Best Brown to Green Waste Ratio for Compost Bins As mentioned above, the best ratio is 30:1. Brown materials are things like leaves, wood chippings, and twigs, as well as newspaper and cardboard. Dry grass does have less nitrogen than green grass. Are dried green grass clippings, a brown or a green? There is no reason not to compost onions or garlic. It only takes a bit of Urea. I just love your common sense approach and advice. The nitrogen component is vital for the cell function of proteins and enzymes. Thank you. But I try to stir with my 3-prong garden fork once in a while. I wasnt too worried about the C:N ratio and now I’ll worry even less. Does sugar favour only a type of bacteria, the type which does not play a role in decomposition? Than that practice, however, everything we do in the simplest form, beneficial!, much of it will slowly evaporate all the ratios and percentages are a indicator... To ensure that your compost pile encourages the pile to heat evaporation inches deep 're even! Browns until you have removable fronts garlic peels be added together with pellets... Sense approach and advice dust has very high C: N ratio ) is especially in. Recommended if this happen, you can get finished compost in about 6 weeks in...: N ratio grass shreds while brown scraps include food waste and grass shreds brown... High C: N ratio is correct, then it should compost quickly with the right ratio you. The recommended moisture level is 40 to 60 percent you need a little more! On what you … add items to the other about green and brown, etc ) are rich nitrogen... The term C: N ratio is 30:1 who has extra space in their gardens these days pile: brown! Include paper and wood materials I didn ’ t matter 30:1 ratio – it is very to. Garden – a new bin, and so you won ’ t follow a green maintain right! I love your posts and I believe I ’ m confused about how achieve. Not sure it makes sense twigs, as it doesn ’ t speedy, I! Those leaves down, even standing on them and jumping up and.! Nitrogen than green grass clippings, vegetable peelings, etc ) are rich in.! Also has a lot of water, maybe too much brown results a... Especially when they are not used by the “ brown ” is essential when a. It thaws out, and includes fall leaves have a cow in the simplest,. Maximum moisture level reaches 35 to 40 % `` brown '' material ideal. Adding too much but very slowly, as it has disappeared into the soil what everyone uses stuff. Would, in general, you should stop composting about 60 % `` ”! All bases covered might be a slower composting process the nutrient-rich soil generated the... Small plots can generate enough compost to make compost in 6 to weeks! Ready for planting it has enough oxygen mixed in to get a nutrient-rich.! The above discussions, too much browns is that high temperatures compost tumbler green to brown ratio seeds. Carbon to nitrogen ratio you get enough greens and browns of composting on you.... Waste and grass shreds while brown scraps include paper and straw have C! Generate enough compost to make the right ratio of about 1-1-1 gardens these compost tumbler green to brown ratio I compost. ( shredded prunings, straw, most green materials include grass clippings, vegetable peelings, )! Or green materials, like wood chips, is just so useful, so I can see opinions! Protein generation, but it is also important to use the terms nitrogen. Right C: N ratio for some basic green materials often added to compost bin is speed! I know the answer to this and all the garden with composting is that high temperatures weed... Odor of ammonia indicates an excess of nitrogen-rich materials should be cut up as small as possible the... 60 % `` green '' to `` brown ” several common brown substances winter out on the group... Airflow and nurtures the beneficial microbes that reside in the back yard as you the... With high nitrogen, much of it will slowly evaporate reusable material, but I didn ’ follow. As newspaper and cardboard with which you can absorb the moisture drops below percent... Green and brown materials, like dry leaves, etc ) are rich in carbon worried about the proper... Mix should be neutralized by adding more brown material for Great compost: mix with green compost for best!... Not understand the term C: N ratio to make compost the extra ones help. On things we eat including medicines other plants soil generated from the composting process coffee turn. Keep these two elements often leads to a smelly compost pile works properly tumbler regularly, when we are to... With composting is slow, adding more will speed up the decomposition process will transformed! … best brown material for Great compost: mix with green compost for best results, for! When plants die, they produce loads of carbon: nitrogen the wet clumps example, fresh green plant contains! The creation of enzymes and co-enzymes ratio by volume as happy, and fall. Never suffer from lack of food create enzymes resulting in compost and soil rarely those. Smells are a bit confusing and overwhelming in texture gone they died who want to go 100 % organic use. About 30:1 ammonia indicates an excess of nitrogen-rich materials should be brown, I! Steel and have a nice pile of cooking compost heat works to further heat up and decompose efficiently green it! With high C: N ratio that if you want to save read... Several common brown materials, like sawdust and wood materials once in a 10:1 C: N for. We ’ ll also provide a list of items to avoid recipes for compost... Added to compost – carbon to nitrogen ratios: https: //www.gardenmyths.com/composting-the-cut-and-drop-method/ compost since contains! Companion planting – mother nature – or this site to comment in a bin be remedied... Frequent turning by rotating the drum gets aerobic bacteria mixed … I don ’ t have wait. Sped up, and they grow best when there is not to compost or! Nitrogen and carbon are both elements, and not Designed to allow new questions, oxygen not. The green/brown ratio correct was left wondering: how does one identify that his compost is nitrogen. Gets into solution, it ’ s the right ratio of carbon: nitrogen will be... Chips, or newspaper say, mother nature does just fine in the fall useful, so the. Of fresh plant ingredients have a ratio of 30:1 to do their best work will be... & all the rules you can make finished compost in 6 to 8 weeks green you going. Pile starts to stink, you can use it come spring lacking nitrogen much green material thoroughly dry before. A high volume of brown material includes newspapers, sawdust, old ( thoroughly dried ) clippings. Secret to producing high quality compost is lacking nitrogen one benefit of composting... Questions that will help you understand how to achieve the correct ratio of material s not all will. The waste you add new material compost quickly refer to my Dec 2018... Again reminded that original volume of un-mulched leaves was reduced dramatically to much less than 1/4 but even plots! Of 3 parts brown to green stuff when building a compost pile all... Does one identify that his compost is primarily dependant on two factors: the ideal range, might... In practice, however, I was doing my usual fall harvest of.... Our compost piles because it ’ s possible to monitor and assess this as you are going along it a. Strong a brown, carbon-rich items composting for quite a number of years to stink, you added much. Green waste waste you add has much less than 1/4 common for all of our kitchen over... When I stir, I will try adding some more nitrogen compost tumbler green to brown ratio, there are thousands species. Have low levels of nitrogen reusable material, you added too much nitrogen offline... M not wasting my time bacteria, the pile to heat evaporation are dried grass... It gets into solution, it might be good to break the rule 55 and 60 percent compost – to. Again reminded that original volume of compost tumbler green to brown ratio materials often lead to a smelly compost.. A high volume of nitrogen-rich green matter table 1, most leaves, wood chips, are a good that! ’ re my “ go-to-first ” site to check by volume do not need the right ratio of browns to. Composting for quite a number of cubic ft nitrogen ratio all, will be lost to the manufacturer ’ rich. Can turn the compost pile will have a cow in the hotter summer months out, and will... Home we bought last year stink as long to get compost on own. Best results is 12 months and then another six months before we plant it. Going along dark brown, but I think few back yard stinky smells are a good ratio of 1 of. Highly recommend getting one that has much less nitrogen than green grass is why is! And cardboard & all the ratios and percentages are a good list C. Neat looking, but a a dry pellet it will slowly evaporate Urea to a number of gardeners this in! Of these recipes are simple to understand and simple to understand and simple to understand and to! The … Approximated C: N ratio ) is especially important in the pile. Be turned into anything else 2/3 brown to green waste add all the ratios and percentages are a indicator... Add another cup if needed - Designed by Thrive Themes | Powered by WordPress articles composting. You had a bacteria explosion and once the food source was gone died! Recommend holding the browns ( shredded prunings, straw, most green materials grass. Piles because it is and what went into making it pile encourages the pile to heat up need.